Conveyer.



R. J. FAHLE.

CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8. 1914.

Patented May J, 1917.

5 SHEETSSH ET 4.:

. R. J. FAHLE.

CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.8. l9l4.

Patented May 29,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

RAYMOND J. FAHLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONVEYER.

Specification at Letters Patent.

' Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed December 8, 1914. Serial No. 876,092.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RAYMOND J. FAHLn, acitizen of the United States, and a res1- dent of the city of Chicago,county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Conveyors, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in conveyers designed for use inbuildlngs for conveying articles or material from one floor to anotherand wherein the unloading from the conveyer is automatically effected.

The object of my invention is the produc tion of a conveyer of thecharacter men tioned which will be of improved construction andefficient in operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter The invention consists in thecombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

The invention -will bebest understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a section through a build ng in which is installed aconveyer embodylng my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the building showing the loading andunloading openings of the various floors commnni eating with theconveyer shaft, in elevation,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a fragment of Fig. 1, parts being shown insection and parts being broken away in order to better illustrate theconstruction,

Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the cars of theconveyer,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on substantially line w-w of Fig. 1,

Fi 6 is an enlarged section taken on substantlally line w-w of Fig. 5,

Fi 7 is an enlarged section taken on substantially line yy of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section talaen on substantially linez-2 of Fig. 5, an

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the constructionof the conveyer cars.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings isarranged in a vertical shaft 1 .formed in the building in which theconveyer is installed Arranged motor 9 or other source of power fordriving the chain 6.

Spaced along the chains 6 are cars or.

carriers, each of which, as clearly shown in Figs. 4, 6, 7 8 and 9,comprises end pieces 10 provided with slots 11 for embracingtransversely extending supporting rods 12, the ends of which arefastened to the chains 6. Cooperating bolts and nuts 13 pass through themembers 10 to securely clamp the same upon rods 12. Bolted at theirrespective ends to end pieces 10 are plates 14 and'15 which are spacedapart by spaced blocks 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The members 14,15 and 16 are rigidly connected together by bolts and cooperating nuts17.

The respective ends of members 14 and 15 are provided with extensions11' and 15 and the end spacing blocks 16' are correspondingly extendedto serve as supports for side walls 18 of the car, as clearly shown inFigs. 5 and 6. Secured to the outer sides of plates 14 and 15 areoppositely projecting spaced straps or bars 18 which constitute the rearwall of the car.

-Having their rearward ends slidably engaging in the rectangular spacesformed between plates 14 and 15 and blocks 16 are elongated fingers 19which project forwardly, the outer ends of said fingers engaging betweenbars 20, the rearward ends of which are secured by screws 21 to plates14 and 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The bars 20, at opposite sides ofeach of the fingers 19, are rigidly connected by rivets 22, andintermediate said rivets are provided rollers 23 for engagement with theopposite sides of fingers 19 to permit ofready longitudinal sliding ofthe latter, this construction being clearly shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 9.The bars 20 between adjacent fingers 19 are preferably formed integralat their rearward ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 9 and said bars areprovided with shoulders 24 for engagement with shoulders 25 rovided uponthe fingers 19 in order to limit forward sliding of the latter.

The car which is thus formed is alike at top and bottom, one side of thecar being i used when the same is movin downwardly,

and the other side being use when the car is moving upwardly.

C06 erating with the rearward end of each nger 19, as clearly shown inFigs. 4, 7 and 8, is a lever 26 fulcrumed intermediate its ends at 27 toa support 28'secured to and projecting from the plate 14. Carried at oneend of the lever 26 is a thimble 28 open at its lower end. Provided atthe lower end of said thimble is a movable head or detent member 30, themovement of which inone direction is limited by a nut 31 attached to theouter end of an exteriorly projecting stem of said detent. Said detentis normally held at this terminal of movement by means of a helicalcompression spring 32. The detent 30 is adapted to'normally engage in aslot 33 which is formed in the plate 14, the same beingv also adapted,upon depression thereof, and with the corresponding finger 19 at itsforward terminal of movement, to engage in a slot 34 formed in theadjacent side thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. When said detent 30is in engagement with the slot 34 of the corresponding finger 19 it willof course lock the latter against sliding movement.

vCotiperating with 'each of the levers 26 is a helical tension spring 35which serves to normally hold the detent 30 at its outer terminal ofmovement, that is out of engagement' with the corresponding slot 34. Therearward end of each lever 26 is formed with a depending arm 36 whichnormally is positioned in the path of the C01 responding end of thefinger 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The arrangement is suchtherefore, that upon movement of the finger 19 toward the arm 36, thelatter will be moved upwardly, and cause rocking of the lever 26 to theposition shown in Figs. 7 and 8. 'All of the levers 26 are connectedtogether by a rod 37 so that all will move in unison and v also wherebyoperation or tilting of one of ated to depress the heads or detents 30into engagement with the slots 34 of all of the other fingers 19, asshown in Fig. 8, in

order to lock said fingers against sliding movement. The member 30, whenin elevated position, is spaced slightly from the corresponding finger19 so that said member 30 will not move into engagement with said fingeruntil the latter has been moved to such an extent as to bring the slot34 thereof out of registration with said member 30'. Such an arrangementis obviously necessar since otherwise the finger 19 which it was esiredto move, would belocked by the detent 39 immediately upon movement ofsaid finger. The provision of compression springs 32, which yieldinglyhold the detents 30 at" their outerterminals of movement, permits ofrearward yielding of the detent cooperating with the finger 19 which hasbeen slid rearwardly, as mentioned,

carrying the slot 34 thereof out of registration with said detent, andtherefore permits of the movement of all of the other detents 30 intoengagement with the slots 34 cooperating therewith.

In the operation of the conveyer it is desired to automatically unloadtheconveyers at the various floors, and for this purpose unloadingopenings 38 are provided registering with the various floors at thedowngoing side of the conveyer and openings 39 are provided at theopposite side of the shaft for registration with the up-going side ofthe conveyer. The top fioor at the downgoing side of the conveyer will,of course, not be provided with an unloading opening, since there are nofloors above from which deliveries may be made. Correspondingly at theup-goin side of the conveyer there will be no 'un oading opening 39 atthe lowermost floor, because there are no lower floors from whichdeliveries can be made. Provided in the shaft 1 at the lower edge ofeach of the openings 38 is an unloader 40 consisting of a plurality ofspaced fingers, the rearward ends of which are secured to an oscillatoryshaft 41 which is mounted in suitable bearings provided upon the wallsof shaft 1, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. The fingers of eachunloader 40 are so spaced as to register with the openings between thebars 20 of the conveyer cars so as to permit of passage of said unloaderfingers between said car openings upon oscillation of the former. Eachof the shafts 41 is provided with a sprocket wheel 42, which isconnected by an endless sprocket chain 43 with a sprocket wheel 44 fixedto a shaft 45 which is mounted in bearings secured to a channelsupporting beam 46 which is arranged substantially centrally in theshaft 1.

Fixed to each of the shafts 45 is a drum 47 to which is secured one endof a flexible element 48 which is connected at its lower end with arollered head 49 slidably mounted in a substantially verticallyextending channel member 50 secured to and depending from thecorresponding supporting member 46. The head 49 is provided with anoutwardly projecting lug 51 which is positioned in the path of one ofthe fingers 19 51 by one of the fingers 19, causing said lug and hencethe member 49 to be carried downwardly, the unloader 40, which normallyassumes 9. depending vertical position, as shown at the lowermost floorat the downward side of the conveyer in Fig. 1, will be rocked u wardlyin order to remove any article wliich may be positioned upon thecorresponding car and, upon continued upward movement of said unloader,to discharge the article thus removed from the car through thecorresponding unloading opening 38. The lower end'of the channel memberis curved rearwardly as shown, so that as the member 49 approaches thelower terminal of said member 50, the lug 51 thereof will be retractedfrom the finger 19 engaging therewith and will finall moved out ofengagement with said nger so as to permit of said in being returned toits normal position at t e upper end of said channel member 50. Thisreturn to normal position of the lug 51 is effected through downwardswingin of the corresponding unloader 40, whic is, of course, effectedby gravity. 'At the lower end of each ofthe members 50 is provided acurved deflector plate 52 adapted for engagement with the rearwardlyprojecting, finger 19 in order-to return the same to its initialposition after said finger has disengaged the lug 51, or after saidfinger has completed the performance of its function. It is of courseunderstood, that the lugs 51 at the various floors will be positionedout of vertical alinement or in such a position that each will be adated for engagement by a different one of tlie fingers 19. a I a Theunloading mechanism coiiperating with the up-going side of the conveyeris substantially the same as that used in connection with the down-goingside of the conveyer, just described, comprising an unloader 40, ofsubstantially the same construction as unloader 40, which is secured toan oscillatory shaft 41 arranged at the lower ed e of each of theopenings 39. U on eac of the shafts 41" is a sprocket w eel 42' which isconnected by means of an endless sprocket chain 43' with a sprocketwheel 44 secured to a shaft 45' mounted in bearings depending from theunder side terminal of movement, as-

ating' with each of the members 49' is a counterbalance weight 54 whichis slidably mounted upon a guide rod 55, said counterbalance weightbeing connected by means of a flexible element 56 with the upper end ofthe member 49, said member56 inthis arrangement priming over a guidepulle 57 The counterbalance weight serves simp y as a means ofpreventing too sudden return movement of the member 49' after the samehas been released from the finger 19, as will be'readily understood. Acurved plate 52 coiiperates with the rearward end of finger 19 after thesame has released thecorresponding lug 51 in order to return the same toits initial position, serving in the same capacity as the plate 52,above described. For the reception of the articles unloaded, baskets orother suitable receptacles 58 are provided at the lower edge of each ofthe unloading openings 38 and 39, as clearly shown in Figs. 1' and 2.

The arrangement is such therefore, as will be seen, that a car may beunloaded at any floor desired, providing the proper finger 19 is movedrearwardly so as to engage with the lug 51 or 51', as the case may be,of the floor at which it is desired to unload. To effect this rearwardadjustment of the fingers 19, setting mechanism is provided at the loweredge of each loading openin 59 registering with the down 'going side 0the conveyer and at the upper edge of each loading opening 60coeperating with the upgoing side of the conveyer. The bottom floorregistering with the down-going side of the conveyer is of course notprovided with a loading opening since there are no floors below to whichdeliveries can bemade, and likewise the top floor at the up-going sideof the conveyer is not provided with a loading opening, since there areno floors above to which deliveries may be made.

. Each of the setting mechanisms for coeperation withthe fingers 19comprises a plurality of arms 61 which are loosely pivoted at 61, asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Coeperating with the free end of each ofthe arms 61 is a helical tension spring 62 which normally holds the sameat its inner terminal of movement. Also coiiperating with each of thearms 61 is a lever 64 fulcrumed at 63, the lever 64 being angular inform so that upon downward rockin of the outer end thereof, the innerend 0 the lever will engage against thecorresponding arm 61 and rock'the same inwardly to a position corresponding to the dotted lineposition of lever 61 shown in Fig. 4. The

outer ends of the levers 64 pass through elongated slots 65 provided inplates 66 secured to the outer side of the wall of shaft 1. Adjacent thelower extremity of one edge of each of the slots 65 is formeda detentshoulder 67 which is adapted to frictiona ly engage with thecorresponding lever 64 in order to yieldin ly hold the same at its lowerterminal 0 movement.

The number of arms 61 arranged at any floorat the down-going side of theconveyer will correspond with the number of .fioors below the floor inquestion, and so that in the construction shown in the drawings, thesecond floor is provided with one arm 61, and the third or upper floorwith two of said arms. The arms 61 rovided at any one floor are also sopositioned as to be adapted for engagement with the fingers 19 which arepositioned for registration with the lugs 51 of the floors below and sothat in order to effect the discharge of a load at any particular floor,it is only necessary to ad ust the lever 64 corresponding with thatfloor. When this is done, the finger 19 corresponding with the lug 51 atthe floor at which it is desired to unload, will be automatically movedrearwardly as the car passes the setting mechanism so that as the carreaches the desired floor, the finger which has thus been set, willengage with the lug 51 of the latter floor and thereby effect automaticunloading of the car. The operation and manipulation of thearms 61 whichcoiiperate with the up-going side of the conveyer are similar to theoperation and manipulation of the arms 61 cooperating with the downgoingside of the conveyer, just described, and it is not thought that furtherdescription thereof is necessary for a complete understanding.

By reason of the releasable engagement of the detent shoulders 67 withthe levers 64, after an arm 61 has operated to slide one of, the fingers19 to its rearward position, the stopping of the finger at its rearwardposition, w1ll cause the latter to ofier a resistance or obstruction tothe arm 61 and sufliciently to overcome the locking effect of the detentshoulder 67 of the corresponding lever 64 and thereby release said leverso as to permit of the return of sald arm to initial position by thecorresponding spring 62.

In order to apprise of the fact that a conveyer car is empty, at eachfloor at the down-going side of the conveyer, below the upper floor andexcepting the lower floor, an electric light 68 will be provided abovethe loading opening 59. An indicating light is not provided at the upperfloor because .all cars passing this floor will necessarily be empt anda light is not provided at the lower oor, because loading 1s never donefrom this floor. Also, excepting each floor above the lower floor at theup-going side of the conveyer and excepting the top floor, an indicatinglight 68 w1ll also be arranged. Such a ight is not arran d at the lowerfloor because all cars will be empty as the same pass this floor, and alight is not arran d at the top floor because a car is never oaded fromthis floor.

Each of the. lights 68 is interposed in a branch wire 69 which connectswith one of the line wires 70 of a source of electrical energy 71. Thebranch wires 69 are connected with trolley wires or elongated contacts72 which are provided immediately above each floor at. the down-goingside of the conveyer, which is' provided with one of the lights68 andimmediately below each floor at the up-going side of the conveyer,which. is provided with a light 68. The other side of the source ofelectrical energy 71 is connected with a trolley wire 73 which extendsparallel with the wires 72, said wires 72 and 73 being mounted upon thechannel guides 7 at one side of the shaft 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.Provided upon each of the conveyer cars are two trolley wheels 74 and 75which are mounted upon but insulated from a supporting arm 76 whichprojects from the car, as shown in said figure. The trolley wheels74 and75 are adapted for contact with the trolley nels 7 adjacent the trolleywheels 74 and 75 are formed with flanges 76 which serve as guides tohold said trolley wheels in engagement with the trolley wires, asclearly shown in Fig. 5. Said trolley wheels 74 and 75 are connected bymeans of wires 77 and 78 respectively with contacts 79 and 80 arrangedupon the car, as clearly shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 8. The contact member79 of each car is mounted upon and insulated' from the plate 14 of thecar, the contact 80 bein from one o the levers 81 which are fulcrumedintermediate their ends as at 82 to the bars 20 at one side of each car.

The arrangement is such, as will be seen that, when the rearward end ofthe lever 81 carrying the contact 80 is rocked downwardly, said contactwill engage with the corresponding contact'79 inorder to close thecircuit between the corresponding trolley wheels 74 and 75, and so thatwhen said trolley wheels engage simultaneously with the trolley wires-72 and 73 cooperating therewith, the circuit through the source 71 willbe closed in order to light the lamp 68 vwires 72 and 7 3 respectively.The chanmounted upon and insulated ing. Cooperating with each of thelevers 81 is a leaf spring 83 which serves to normally hold the outerend thereof in outward position, this being the normal position of saidlevers except when the car is loaded. When the car is loaded, the weightof a package or .of the load upon said levers willrock the outer endsthereof inwardly or downwardly against the tension of the springs 83which coiiperate therewith. At

the reverseside of each car are also provided levers 81 correspondingwith the le vers 81 which are fulcrumed at 82'. Corresponding levers 81and 81' are operativel connectedby links 84 which engage with a rockerarm 85 which is of its ends as at 86, as early shown in Fig. 7. Withthis arran ement, it will be seen that, the placing 0 'a package uponeither side of the car, that is during downgoing movement or up-goinmovement of the car will have the same e ect. The rearward ends of allof the levers 81 are secured together by a connecting bar 87 so that theoperation of any one of said levers will have the effect of moving allof said levers. A number of levers are provided, as shown, in order toinsure engagement w th a package of any size which may be positioned atan location uponthe car.

, With the construction set forth then, it will be seen that, as anempty car approaches any one of the loading openings or loadingstations, the signal light 68 arranged above the loading opening, willbe lighted to indicate the fact. The rearward ends of the levers 81 areprovided with dependin arms 88 which engage in open ings 89 ormed in theplate 14, the lower ends of said arms, upon downward rocking of therearward ends of said levers and with the fingers 19 positioned at theirforward terminals of movement, being adapted to enter slots 90 formed insaid fingers in order to lock the latter against rearward movement. Withthisarrangement, it will be seen that the fingers 19 will be lockedagainst rearward movement until a package is placed upon the car. Uponthe placing of a package upon the car, the levers 81 and 81' will bedepressed so as to move the memhere 88 to releasing position in order topermit of the desired rearward movement of any one thereof. Through theyielding locking of the levers 64 in lowered position, in the event ofone of the levers 64 being operated to set one of the arms 61 without apackage having been placed upon the succeeding car, the adjusted arm 81in engagin with the corresponding finger 19 would not move the latterrearwardly, but would itself be rocked rearwardly by said finger toinitial position, the pressure upon said arm 61 being sufficient toovercome the frictional locking of the corresponding lever 64 in loweredosition.

Witht is arrangement then, it will be seen that the fingers 19 will belocked against rearward movement except when a package is arranged uponthe car. When this is done, the consequential downward rocking of theforward ends of levers 81 will have the effect of raising the members 88out of engagement with the slots 90 so as to unlock the fingers 19 andpermit of rearward movepivoted medially c ment thereof. At the bases ofbackdorming members 18' are provided forwardly projecting plates 91'whichserve to prevent contact of the ackagesor articles placedupon thecars wit the rearward ends of levers 81 or the portionsthereof beyondthe pivots 82 and 82 of said levers. Y I y In the operation of theconveyer, the chains Gwil paratively low rate of speed, or at such aspeed as to permit of loading of the cars as the same pass the loadingopenings 59 and 60. .After the loading of the car or before, if desired,the lever-64 is actuated to ad'ust the setting arms 61 for effectingunloa ing of the car at the floor desired. The proper lever 64 havingbeen adjusted, as the succeedlng car passes the arms 61, one of thefingers 19 will be moved rearwardly. As the ear approaches the objectiveunloading opening, the rea-rwardly projectin finger 19 will engage withthe lug 51 or 51 as the case may be, corresponding with that opening,and move the same in order to rock the unloader *0 or 10 cooperatingtherewith upwardly into engagement wit the package which will dischargethe same through the corresponding unloading opening. 38 or 39. Theback-forming members 18' of each car are curved forwardly, as shown, inorder to hold the package upon the unloading fingers in the upwardrocking thereof. Also,

be constantly driven at a com the outer ends of the fingers of theunloading device 10 cooperating with the up-going side of the conveyerwill be'turned upwardly, as at 92 as shown, in Fig. 1, in order toinsure the engagement of said fingers with the package'engaged.

The signal light (58 will serve, asabove mentioned, to apprise anoperator stationed at any one of the loading floors or stations of theapproach of an empty car so that as the latter passes the loadingopening, the package may be placed upon the car.

With a construction'as set forth then, it will be seen that a conveyinapparatus is provided wherein, after loa ing of a car and adjustment ofcertain levers, the unloadin of the car at any floor or station desirewillbe automatically effected.

While I have illustrated and described'the preferred form ofconstruction for carryin my invention into effect, this is capable ovariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I,

therefore, do not wish to be limited to the movable devices out ofalinement with one another with respect to the lines of travel of theconveyer, one at each unloading station adapted, when actuated tooperate the corresponding unloading mechanism; a plurality of movablymounted members carried by said carrier adapted each, upon adjustmentthereof to operative position, to engage with one of said devices foractuating the corresponding unloading mechanism; means for ad usting anyone of said movable members to operative position; and means adapted,upon adjustment of one of said movable members to operative position, tolock the other of said members in inoperative position, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a conveying apparatus; a carrier; means for propelling saidcarrier; a series of loading stations and a series of unloading stationswhich are passed by said carriers when in motion; unloading mechanism ateach of said unloading stations; a series of movable devices out ofalinement with one another with respect to the lines of travel of theconveyer, one at each unloading station adapted, when actuated tooperate the corresponding unloading mechanism; a plurality of movablymounted members carried by'said carrier adapted each, upon adjustmentthereof to operative position, to engage with one of said devices foractuating the corresponding unloading mechanism;

means for adjusting any one of said movable membersto operativeposition; and means controlled by the operative movement of any one ofsaid movable members adapted, upon adjustment of one of said movablemembers to operative position, to lock the other of said members ininoperative position, substantially as described.

3. In a conveying apparatus; a carrier; means for propelling saidcarrier; a series of loading stations and a series of unloading stationswhich are passed by said car.- riers when in motion; unloading mechanismat each of said unloading stations; a series of movable devices out ofalinement with one another with respect to the lines of travel of theconveyer, one at each unloading station adapted, when actuated tooperate the corresponding unloading mechanism; a plurality of movablymounted members carried by said carrier adapted each, upon adjustmentthereof to operative position, to engage with one of said devices foractuating the corresponding unloading mechanism; means for adjusting anyone of said movable members to operative position; and pivoted leverscarrying detents cooperating with said movable members adapted, uponadjustment of one of said movablemembers to opera- 1,227,aee

tive position, to lock the other of said members in inoperativeposition, substantially as described.

4. In a conveying apparatus, a' carrier; means for propelling saidcarrier; a series of loading stations'and a series of unloadlng stationswhich are passed byasaid carriers when in motion; unloading mebhanism ateach of said unloading stations; a series of movable devices out ofalinement with one another with respect to the lines of travel of theconveyer, one at each unloading station adapted, when actuated'tooperate ,the corresponding unloading'mechanism; a plurality of movablymounted members carried a by said carrier adapted each, upon adjustmentthereof to operative position, to engage with one of said devices foractuating the corresponding unloading mechanism; means for adjusting anyone of said movable members to operatlve position; and detents adaptedfor engagement with recesses provided in said movable members whereby,upon adjustment of one of said movable members to operative position,the other of said members will be locked in inoperative position,substantially as described.

5. In a conveying apparatus, a carrier; means for propelling saidcarrier; a series of loading stations and a series of unloading stationswhich are passed by said carriers when in motion; unloadin mechanism ateach of said unloading stations; a series of movable devices out ofalinement with one another with respect to the lines of travel of theconveyer, one at each unloading station adapted, when actuated tooperate the corresponding unloading mechanism; a plu rality of movablymounted members carried by said carrier adapted each, upon adjustmentthereof to operative position, to enga e with one of said devices foractuating t e corresponding unloading mechanism; means for adjusting anyone of said movable members to operative position; and a plurality ofyieldingly mounted detents connected together for unisonous movement,said detents being adapted for cooperation with said movable members andadapted, upon adjustment of one of said movable members to operativeposition, to lock the other of said members in inoperative position,substantially as described.

6. In a conveying apparatus, a carrier; means for propelling saidcarrier; :1 series of loading stations and a series of unloadingstations .which are passed by said carriers when in motion; unloadingmechanism at each of said unloading stations; a series of movabledevices out of alinement with one another with respect to the lines oftravel of the conveyer, one at each unloading station adapted, whenactuated, to operate the correspondin unloading mechanism; a pluralityof hiftably mounted" members carried by said carriers adapted each, uponshifting thereof to operative position, to engage with one of saiddevices for actuating the corresponding unloading mechanism; means forshifting any one of said shiftable members to operative position; and aplurality of pivoted levers carr ing detents cooperating with saidshiftable members whereby, when one of said shiftable members is shiftedto operative position, the other of said members will be automaticallylocked in inoperative position, substantially as described.

7. In a conveying apparatus, a carrier; means for propelling saidcarrier; a series of loading stations and a series of unloading stationswhich are passed by said carriers when in motion; unloading mechanism ateach of said unloading stations;

a series of movable devices out of alinement with one another withrespect to the lines of travel of the conveyer, one at each unloadingstation adapted, when actuated to operate the corresponding unloadingmechanism; a plurality of movably mounted members carried by saidcarrier adapted each, upon adjustment thereof to operative position, toengage with one of said devices for actuating the correspondingunloading mechanism; means for adjusting any one of said movable membersto operative position; and depressible means on the carrier for lockingsaid movable members in inoperative position except when an article isplaced upon the carrier, substantially as described.

8. In a conveying apparatus, a carrier; means for pro ellingSflld&l1'i6l';fl series of loading stations and a series of unloadingstations which are passed by said carriers when in motion; unloadingmechanism at each of said unloading stations; a series of movabledevices out of alinement with one another with respect to the lines oftravel of the conveyer, one atv each unloading station adapted whenactuated to operate the correspon ing unloading mechanism; a pluralityof movably mounted members carried by said carrier adapted each, uponadjustment thereof to operative position, to engage with one of saiddevices for actuating the correspond- 1 ing unloading mechanism; meansfor adjusting any one of said movable members to operative position; andpivotally mounted depressible means on the carrier for locking saidmovable members in inoperative position except when goods are loadedupon the carrier, substantially as described.

9. In a conveying apparatus, a carrier; means for propelling saidcarrier; a series of loading stations and a series of unloading stationswhich are passed by said carrier when in motion; unloading mechanism ateach of said unloading stations; :1 series of movable devices out ofalinement with one another with respect to the lines of travel of theconve er, one at each unloading station adapte when actuated, to opcratethe corresponding unloading mechanism; a plurallty of shiftably mountedmembers carried by said carrier adapted each, upon shifting thereof tooperative position,,to engage with one of said devices for actuating thecorres onding unloading mechanism; means for ifting any one 0 saidshiftable members to operative position; and means on the carrier forlocking said shiftable members in inoperative posi- Iso tion except whenan article is placed upon p the carrier, substantiall as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

RAYMOND J. FAHLE.

Witnesses I Josnua R. H. Porrrs, Hanan F. LILLIB.

